The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-07
Some Facts in Regard to the Bond
Propositions, to be Submitted
Next Week.

Next Week.
Next Tuesday the voters OF Dlckln-
son county will be called upon to vote
bonds for two railroad propositions.
The REFLECTOR has been silent in re-
gard to urging the voters of the county
to support the propositions, nor has 1t
endeayored to throw any light upon the
subject until thorough investigation
had been made, to ascertain if the re-
lease claimed to be made by the 0. A.
& W. company, in case the bonds car
ried at the coming election, for the Chi
cago, Kansas and Nebraska branch of
the Rock Island road, was genuine
release. Also, if there was any prOba-
bility of the road being built if the
bonds were voted, and whether there
was any prospect Of the Chicago,
Omaha and Fort Worth road being
built if aid was voted; also whether
the bonds voted for the Chicago, st.
Joe and Southwestern road were going
to be released. After due inquiry, and
carefully looking over the records and
papers on file, and looking up the finan-
cial standing of the parties back of the
proposed lines, the REFLECTOR is
thoroughly satisfied that both lines will
be built and operated if the aid is voted
that the $3.50, 900 bonds, voted the o.
A. & w. road will be released, if the
county votes 500, 900 aid to the Chicago,
Kansas and Nebraska branch of the
Rock Island road. Such release is on
file, and takes effect in case bonds are
voted for the last named road. The
Chicago, Omaha and Southwestern road
is backed by several of the leading cap
italists of the United States. Among
the many prominent men who are
officers of the proposed line, are: Demas
Barnes, of New York, director of the
Long Island railroad, and man worth
S15, 000,0 900; Gilbert B. Shaw, of Chi
cago, vice president of the Metropolitan
National bank; T. w. Harvey and G.
L. Allen, of Chicago, both millionaires
and shrewd business men; Henry T.
Clark, of Omaha, one Of the wealthiest
and best known business men of that
city. The city of Omaha is working
with will to get the road. There never
was as much interest manifested by the
people of Omaha for the success of any
line to that city, as they are showing
for the Chicago, Omaha and South
western. Bonds have been voted in
Nebraska, and work commenced from
Omaha southwest. The $4,000 bonds
voted last fall to aid the building of the
Chicago & Fort Worth road, have been
released by C. w. Davis, president of
that line. By voting the 100000 to
each of the two propositions next Tues
day, will guarantee the release of $780,
600 to the o. A. & W., the other $780,
600 having already been released. Now
the question arises in the minds of the
people of the county, what are the ben
efitS to be derived from voting for the
bonds ? The great Rock Island needs
no introduction to the people of Dick
inson county. The advantages to be
derived from such a line are too numer-
Gus to mention. The Chicago, Omaha
and Southwestern places us within
twenty miles as near Omaha as Kansas
City, and forty-twO miles nearer Chi
cagO than via Kansas City. 1t would
also give us competing line to Texas,
and be benefit to the entire county.
The more railroads built in the county
the better towns, and, consequently,
better markets for everything raised ON
the farm. Real estate will increase in
value, tax on the different roads will
help to sustain our treasury, and make
the surplus tax to pay interest on the
bonds, merely nominal. In the town.
ships where the road passes through,
the railroad tax will exceed the tax paid
by the residents of those townships.
In the townships that the lines do not
pass through, the bonds proposed are
$50, 900 less than the bonds voted. that
will be released.
Candidly and frankly, can anyone
deny the assertions above made, and
prove that they are not facts?